Chapter 18
A fire was crackling in the fireplace when she came downstairs with David at seven a.m. Tyler, showered, shaved, dressed in jeans and a sweater—sat on the couch scrolling on his phone. The only light came from the twinkling lights on the Christmas tree and the glow of the fire.
“Merry Christmas.” Lauren pulled her green, fluffy robe more tightly around her as she greeted him.
He immediately stood with a smile. “Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas, David.”
David giggled, reaching out his hands. Lauren passed him to Tyler. “You didn’t need to come so early.”
“Of course I did.” He lifted a stainless steel travel coffee cup. “You needed your peppermint mocha. They told me it would stay hot for an hour in this and I’ve only been here about ten minutes.”
“Thanks.” She accepted the mug from him. “I’m feeling underdressed.”
Tyler eyed her. “You’re adorable.” He smiled when their eyes finally met. “I also came early because you needed your stockings. Christmas isn’t Christmas without stockings, right, David?” Tyler poked David’s stomach.
“We didn’t put them up this year.” She paused when she turned toward the hearth. Two stockings hung in the center—a red and white knit one embroidered with “Lauren” and a green and white knit one with “David.”
“Beth and Shelly were afraid if they got you new ones, you’d be mad at them.” Tyler followed her as she walked toward them. “I knew you’d get over it, especially if I put good stuff in them. Huh, David? Give Mommy enough chocolate and she’ll forgive anything.”
She swallowed hard. “Tyler—”
“Open yours first. Then we’ll do little man’s.”
Her fingers traced the red thread that formed her name. God, he shouldn’t have—
“Go ahead.” Tyler held open the stocking. “I know you’re dying to know what Santa brought.”
A pocket devotional, a box of truffles, gift card for digital downloads, and new wireless earbuds. With each one that she pulled from the stocking, the lump grew in her throat.
“Chocolate for when you reach your goal, God’s Word to start each day, enough credits to download a few new albums, and earbuds, in case you lose your other ones.”
God, he knows me so well. She fought back the tears. “You shouldn’t have.”
His smile widened. “David’s turn.”
David immediately shoved the stuffed reindeer in his mouth, slapped the board book Tyler handed out, and flung the teething ring.
“I think he likes everything,” Tyler laughed.
“Thank you.” Lauren relaxed in the comfort of Tyler’s arms when she hugged him. Gratitude for him, all he did for her the past three days overwhelmed her. He’s done so much for me, for us.
Ruth hurried out of the downstairs guest room. “Hannah’s awake. Are we ready for this?”
“Absolutely.” Tyler squeezed Lauren before they broke from their embrace. “It’s going to be a great day.”
“It already is.” Lauren wiped her tears.
“You’ve been here how long?” Lauren asked when the aroma of coffee greeted them as they entered the kitchen.
“Coffee first. That’s the most important rule of every morning, right, little man?” Tyler poured himself a cup. “Do Mike and Ruth drink coffee?”
“Yes, please,” Mike said walking through the door. “I heard we’re starting in here.”
“Yes.” Lauren busied herself plating the scones Ruth had made the day before. “We need to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to Jesus.”
Once everyone had a lit candle in their scone, they sang to Jesus. The choir of voices sent a warm, tingling sensation throughout Lauren’s body. The adults laughed at Hannah’s attempts to blow out her candle. Thankfully Tyler’s quick reflexes stopped David from grabbing his. They were finishing breakfast when her father arrived.
From the corner of the couch, Lauren had a view of all the activity. Tyler passed out the gifts from under the tree. Hannah giggled, ripping the wrapping paper from each gift and then was anxious to empty the boxes so she could sit in them. The only gift that held her attention was the talking bear Lauren bought her. She insisted Mike open it immediately and covered it with hugs and kisses.
Mike practiced putting with the new clubs and golf balls Lauren gave him. Ruth complained the season tickets to Broadway shows was too much until Lauren admitted she planned on attending half of them with her. Her dad laughed at the “Best Grandpa” shirt and shook his head at the newest model cell phone.
“I have no idea how to use this,” he said.
“David will be able to teach you in a couple years,” Tyler said.
“I need to be able to send you pictures of David and you need to take pictures of him,” Lauren told him. “I’ll make you a pro in no time.”
Lauren held up all the clothes Ruth gave her and David. Her father purchased a very large and slightly obnoxious walker with whistles and lights for David and a juicer for her. The last two presents Tyler handed her were a large rectangular one for David and smaller rectangular one for her.
“What could this be? It says ‘To Little Man. Love, Tyler.’” Lauren shifted David to her right arm so she could rip off the paper. Once she did, Tyler helped her open the box. Tears filled her eyes as she removed a black wooden frame with a picture of her and Adam. Taken the previous Thanksgiving, before he lost so much weight. Lauren fingered the writing across the top of the frame.
Ruth walked behind Lauren. “David Richard Riley, Made in Love.” She sighed when she finished reading. “Oh, Tyler, that’s beautiful.”
“So you never forget where you came from.” Tyler gently lifted David from Lauren’s arms. He nodded to Lauren’s gift. “Go ahead.”
She wiped her tears. “I’m a little worried.”
Tyler chuckled. “It’s a good one, I think. You’ll only cry a little more.”
Lauren pulled off the red paper to reveal a DVD case.
The Ministry of Adam and Lauren Riley, the title read, with a picture of the two of them beneath it. She examined the photo. “That’s from our first trip to Russia.”
“With the help of your assistants and the record producers I was able to pull together pictures and video clips from all your ministry through the years.” Tyler flipped the case over. “I had them separate the tracks into the various trips, so there’s a lot of them.”
Lauren’s lip quivered as she looked over all the dates and descriptions. “Tyler, this is amazing.”
“I want you to always remember the way God used both of you. And give you something to pass on to David and all the generations to come.”
“Thank you.” Flipping the case over, Lauren stared at the photo of herself and Adam. They had everything. The perfect life. She ran her fingers over his face. God, how I miss him.
“There’s one more present under the tree,” Mike said.
Brushing away her tears, Lauren headed to the Christmas tree. “We have something for you. Not quite as touching, but I think you’ll like it.” Lauren set a large box wrapped in green and red striped paper on the coffee table in front of Tyler.
“Thanks. Did you help pick it out?” Tyler asked David, balancing him on his knee. Plucking the bow from the paper, he stuck it on David’s head. Everyone laughed as David shook his head until Hannah removed it and placed it on her own.
Lauren took her son from Tyler once the paper was off. “Don’t think he should help with the rest. It’s a little fragile.”
“What could it be?” Tyler lifted the white box to his lap. “Man, that’s heavy. The suspense is killing me.” The minute the lid was off, the laughter began.
A sly smile spread across her face. “So you can eat dinner at home without anyone recognizing you.”
“What is it?” her father asked.
“Dishes.” Tyler held up a plate with a John Deere tractor in the middle. “Plates, bowls, even coffee mugs.” He chuckled. “Finally, I can drink my coffee in peace.” His smile widened as he looked into her eyes. “Thank you. I love them.”
Lasagna never tasted so good. The dining room was alive with laughter, stories, jokes, and the chattering of a fifteen-month-old and the babbling of a four-month-old. Tyler sat at the head of one side of the table, Richard at the other. Lauren smiled from ear to ear while they ate.
Thank You, God, Tyler found himself saying over and over. Thank You for Your joy that’s in her heart.
“I have to know,” Tyler said when Lauren walked him to his car that night, “where did you find these?”
“At a thrift store.”
“Ha!” Tyler chuckled. “That makes them even better.”
“I met Shelly a few weeks ago for lunch. It was next door to the restaurant. She insisted we browse after. There they were. The entire set. I know they aren’t elaborate or as thoughtful as your gifts, but I immediately thought of you and started laughing.” Lauren hugged Tyler. “Thanks for everything.”
Tyler inhaled her sweetness. “You’re welcome.” Every beautiful moment of the day came back to him. ”You know, you gave me the greatest gift of all years ago.”
“What was that?” she asked, breaking their embrace.
“You told me about Jesus and displayed His love through your life.” He shoved his hands in his pockets to keep from caressing her cheek. “I never imagined life could be so good. Thank you for continuing to pray for me through the years. The Lord was what I needed the most.”
“I’m glad He answered those prayers.” She tilted her head, staring into his eyes for a minute before speaking. “Dad said he’d watch David on New Year’s if we wanted to go out.”
“Oh yeah? Did you want to?” He removed his Ferrari keys from his pocket. “I’d be fine hanging here with you guys if you prefer.”
Lauren slipped her hand in his. “Maybe we could go to dinner? Or a show?”
He lifted his gaze from their hands to her eyes. “It would be an honor to ring in the New Year with you.”
“Good.” She squeezed it before letting go. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”
Lauren stared at David while he slept, so adorable in his candy cane striped pajamas. She smiled that Tyler picked them out for him to wear.
“God, thank You for the day Your Son was born. Thank You that He came to die so we could live. Thank You for the blessings You’ve given me of great family and friends.” The thought of Tyler’s amusement when opening his gift caused her to grin. She gently ran her hand down David’s cheek. “Thank You for all he’s done for David and me. I love our friendship and don’t want to jeopardize it, but show me if I’m missing something.”
Her phone vibrated as she climbed into her bed. One text from Tyler.
What do you think about seeing this play with me? Then dinner after?
A smile spread on her lips when she clicked the link. An ad opened to the newest musical in town that Lauren mentioned to his sister during Thanksgiving dinner.
Sounds like a great time. :) Thank you.
My pleasure, he replied. I’m looking forward to it.
“Me too, Tyler.” She breathed deeply, placing her phone on her nightstand. “Me too.”